Sermons on Maunday Thursday:

The Struggle Never Ends Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 16, 2019

We humans think that we can be happiest when there is no struggle, when we can just coast. . .But that is not the state of society when there are still many who have not accepted and begun to live the call of Christ.

Thursday of the 6th Week in Course 2019 St. Peter Damian Life after original sin came into the human family is a continual struggle. The story of a great flood is found in more than one culture. Here in our first reading we see God establishing a covenant after the flood between Himself, Noah and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:1-13, Mark 8:27-33

Denomination: Catholic

Generous And Grateful Spirits

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 9, 2019

When the Holy Spirit prompts us to give, we should discern that spirit and when we are at peace with the decision, give responsibly.

Thursday of the First Week in Lent 2019 Saint Matilda There are two ways to look at God, and they represent the contrasting approaches of religious men and women to the virtue we call “fear of the Lord.” The first way, which we associate with, interestingly enough, both pagans and Muslims, could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12, Matthew 10:19, Psalm 138:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Eusebius Versus Arius: A Critical Defense Of The Faith

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 27, 2018

The word "consubstantial" is so important that we either bow or kneel when we commemorate the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb during that prayer.

Thursday of 17th Week in Course St. Eusebius of Vercelli Today’s Scripture gives us two parables, one from Jeremiah and the second from Jesus Himself. Jeremiah visited a potter, probably a novice potter, because what he threw on the wheel turned out badly. But one thing every potter learns is that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Matthew 13:47-53

Denomination: Catholic

The Real Resurrection Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 4, 2016

We must stay in the game, even when we are tired or frustrated by results unseen.

Thursday of 10th Week in Course I can’t ignore the remarkable juxtaposition of the first reading and psalm with the weather events of the past weeks. The northern kingdom of Israel was the richer of the twin Hebrew nations, rich in agriculture, mining and trade. The kingdom of Judah was a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Denomination: Catholic

So They Want To Continue The Conversation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 24, 2016

"they want someone to serve as an instrument and to express their feelings in such a way that afterwards, each one may chose how he or she will continue the conversation."

Thursday of 16th Week in Course Have you ever heard someone–maybe even a preacher–express the idea that the God of the OT is a God of judgement and vengeance, and the God of Jesus is a God of mercy and love? Some of us may have held that opinion during our life. A famous early ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Prepare To Share Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 6, 2016

"To interpret a biblical text, we need to be patient, to put aside all other concerns, and to give it our time, interest and undivided attention."

Thursday of 18th Week in Course This day we commemorate St. Clare of Assisi, the friend of St. Francis who founded the second Order of Franciscans for women religious, or the Poor Clares. As we look at the first reading about Ezekiel digging a hole in the wall of his house, we are reminded that ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 12:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

A Revolution Of Tenderness Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 21, 2015

An opportunity exists in the world to turn away from solipsism and bring all humanity into communion.

Thursday of 5th Week in Lent 2015 Joy of the Gospel Abraham is, as the Roman Canon says, our “father in faith.” He believed that, old as he and Sarah were, they would have a child, and by the power of the Lord, Sarah conceived and brought forth Isaac. But Isaac was not the real child ...read more

Scripture: John 8:51-59

Denomination: Catholic

What Is The Revolution Of Tenderness? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 4, 2015

We are a people called to incarnate the mercy of God.

Thursday of Easter Octave 2015 Joy of the Gospel Today, as we still enjoy the glow of the Easter celebration–every day this week is a reprise of Easter day–the Church gives us two stories that are “aftermaths.” The first is Peter’s sermon to the Jews of Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35-38

Denomination: Catholic

Spirit-Filled Evangelizers Are Evangelizers Who Pray And Work. Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 27, 2017

All that we do must culminate in the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.

Thursday of 7th Week of Easter 2017 Joy of the Gospel The Gospel passage we just proclaimed is one of those moments we are tempted to take comfort in and not think about. It seems all warm and fuzzy and a little like a group hug: “You in me and I in you and everybody else in us all sweet and ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

"I Am A Mission On This Earth" Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 7, 2017

"My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off"

Thursday of 14th Week in Course 2017 Joy of the Gospel When you are in love with someone, when you really care more about that person than anyone else in the world, what is the worst thing that could happen? Rejection. The beloved turns away and tells you to go away, and all of a sudden the world ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Let Us Be Overshadowed By The Spirit Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2017

"This generous trust has to be nourished, and so we need to invoke the Spirit constantly."

Thursday of 17th Week in Course 2017 Joy of the Gospel Today’s Gospel is a reprise of part of the Gospel from last Sunday. There will be a division at the end of time, at the general judgement. Each of us will die and face what we call the “particular” judgement, based on whether we die with the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 40:16-38

Denomination: Catholic

Being Close To The Poor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 5, 2015

'No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas.'

Thursday of 2nd week in Advent 2015 Joy of the Gospel The passage from Isaiah we just heard is from what is often called “Second” Isaiah, probably a disciple of the original Isaiah who wrote during and immediately following the Babylonian exile. It is full of hope; from this we find ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:13-20

Denomination: Catholic

Living The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 3, 2016

The practical love we show to the poor is critical for our discipleship.

Thursday after Epiphany 2016 Joy of the Gospel As we celebrate this day after Epiphany, we continue the readings from St. John that ornament our Christmas-Epiphany season. We also continue our review of the Pope’s long letter, the Joy of the Gospel, and we do so in this Holy Year of mercy. ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The Lordship Of Christ In Every Century Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 26, 2017

“the absence of the Holy Spirit in the Church creates all the divisions.”

Thursday of the 21st Week in Course 2017 Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonika is likely the earliest letter we have from him. He and his band of missionaries are on his second missionary journey, one that took him to western Anatolia and Greece. The church in Thessalonika was his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

Denomination: Catholic

How Much More Will God Give His Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 7, 2017

If there is evil in our lives, God has to permit it to happen, or it wouldn’t. But God never wills evil. He only wants our good.

Thursday of 27th Week in Course 2017 Reformation/Revolution Who among us has not looked on some captain of industry or some venal politician and wondered why “evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.’” as the people did in Malachi’s day? Sometimes it does seem vain ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Catholic